Both the Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance transformed values of the middle ages, but the changes occurred differently in these two regions; artistic changes were far more dramatic and expert in Italy, yet, changes in music were superior in the north.
I. Italian Renaissance
A. Florence (birthplace of Renaissance)
1. Famous painters of late 1200’s and 1300’s
a. Cimabue (1240-1302)
b. Giotto (Cimabue’s pupil) (1276-1336)
1) Work from Padua to Naples
a) Citizens familiar with realism and emotion
2. Wealthy citizens patronized art
3. Tradition of design of luxury goods
a. Silks and gold
b. Many artists began career as goldsmith apprentices (343)
B. Outgrowth of Humanism
1. Goal of artists was to apply humanist lessons to art
2. Wanted to break with past and revive classical times
3. Artists went to Rome in 1420’s for inspiration
a. Masaccio (painter)
1) Emphasis on nature, 3-D human bodies
2) First nudes
a) Rounded arch
3) Values of ancient art
a) Emphasis on human figure reborn
b. Donatello
1) Sculptor
2) Nude
a) Led to idealized representation of human
3) David
c. Brunelleschi
1) Most spectacular of the three
2) Covered crossing with largest dome in
Europe since antiquity
a) Built dome in rings, without scaffolding
b) Hallmark of Renaissance Florence (344)
c) Inspiration for all architects
3) New aesthetic of harmony and balance
a) Matched what other two accomplished in painting and sculpture
4) Broke with medieval past
4. Late 1400’s
a. Artists throughout Italy continued ideas of: Perspective; models, bodies, drapery; observation of nature; rounded arches; symmetry; portraits
C. High Renaissance-early 1500’s-brought movement to climax
1. Leonardo
a. Epitome of the experimental; tradition
b. Anatomy, fortifications
c. Solving practical problems
d. Technical virtuosity
1) Difficult angles, perspective look easy
e. Mona Lisa
1) Smile, landscape
f. Last Supper
2. Raphael
a. Perspective and ancient styles
b. Perfect harmony, beauty, and serenity
c. Relaxation
d. The School of Athens
3. Michelangelo
a. Painting poetry, architecture, sculpture
b. Ultimate achievements of his age
c. Latent strength of striving
d. The Creation of Man
e. Version of David
1) Showed potential power
2) Human being shown in full majesty, independent, potent
individual (346)
4. Titian
a. Venice
1) Rich trading city
2) Humanism wasn’t central
3) Art sensuous
b. Depicted rich velvets, nudes, stormy skies, dogs
c. Europe’s most sought-after Portraitist (347)
II. Northern Renaissance (of the alps)
A. Happened later than Italian Renaissance (15OO’s)
B. Did not have large cities as did Italy
C. Did not have language to understand Italy as did Italy
D. Disintegration of culture of middle ages
1. Culture dominated by Princely courts (not cities)
2. Chivalry had been important-in escape from reality
a. Nights became less important than foot soldiers (352)
b. Fire arms now in use
3. Religion questioned (353)
a. Fascination with death
1) Danse macabre motif
2) Pietas (virgin and weeping over Christ) popular
b. Obsession with material beauty
c. Fascination with relics-concrete example of religion
d. Interest in devil and witchcraft
1) Fear of women
2) Women were most frequently victims of witch craft
4. Literature (354)
a. Fascination with everyday
b. Down-to-earth work of Boccaccio
c. Most famous disciple was Englishman, Chaucer
d. Canterbury Tales
e. Lively portraits are rich tapestry of English society
5. Art
a. Jan Van Eyck, contemporary of Donatello
1) Less interested in idealization than Florentines and more fascinated with details of physical world
2) Combination of earthiness and piety
b. Durer (leading northern artist of High renaissance, German)
1) Tried to blend southern and northern styles
2) Made 2 trips to Venice
3) Invited by Holy Roman Empire to join his court but wanted to stay in home city
4) Pioneer in business of art
5) Detailed depiction of nature and religious purpose
6. Music (355)
a. No longer for liturgical purposes alone
b. Musicians valued as artists in Princely courts
c. Trumpeters used for official occasions
d. Many joined wealthy households
e. Notation became standardized
f. New instruments
1) Oboe
2) Clavicord
g. Unlike visual art, some women were musicians
I. Italian Renaissance
A. Florence (birthplace of Renaissance)
1. Famous painters of late 1200’s and 1300’s
a. Cimabue (1240-1302)
b. Giotto (Cimabue’s pupil) (1276-1336)
1) Work from Padua to Naples
a) Citizens familiar with realism and emotion
2. Wealthy citizens patronized art
3. Tradition of design of luxury goods
a. Silks and gold
b. Many artists began career as goldsmith apprentices (343)
B. Outgrowth of Humanism
1. Goal of artists was to apply humanist lessons to art
2. Wanted to break with past and revive classical times
3. Artists went to Rome in 1420’s for inspiration
a. Masaccio (painter)
1) Emphasis on nature, 3-D human bodies
2) First nudes
a) Rounded arch
3) Values of ancient art
a) Emphasis on human figure reborn
b. Donatello
1) Sculptor
2) Nude
a) Led to idealized representation of human
3) David
c. Brunelleschi
1) Most spectacular of the three
2) Covered crossing with largest dome in
Europe since antiquity
a) Built dome in rings, without scaffolding
b) Hallmark of Renaissance Florence (344)
c) Inspiration for all architects
3) New aesthetic of harmony and balance
a) Matched what other two accomplished in painting and sculpture
4) Broke with medieval past
4. Late 1400’s
a. Artists throughout Italy continued ideas of: Perspective; models, bodies, drapery; observation of nature; rounded arches; symmetry; portraits
C. High Renaissance-early 1500’s-brought movement to climax
1. Leonardo
a. Epitome of the experimental; tradition
b. Anatomy, fortifications
c. Solving practical problems
d. Technical virtuosity
1) Difficult angles, perspective look easy
e. Mona Lisa
1) Smile, landscape
f. Last Supper
2. Raphael
a. Perspective and ancient styles
b. Perfect harmony, beauty, and serenity
c. Relaxation
d. The School of Athens
3. Michelangelo
a. Painting poetry, architecture, sculpture
b. Ultimate achievements of his age
c. Latent strength of striving
d. The Creation of Man
e. Version of David
1) Showed potential power
2) Human being shown in full majesty, independent, potent
individual (346)
4. Titian
a. Venice
1) Rich trading city
2) Humanism wasn’t central
3) Art sensuous
b. Depicted rich velvets, nudes, stormy skies, dogs
c. Europe’s most sought-after Portraitist (347)
II. Northern Renaissance (of the alps)
A. Happened later than Italian Renaissance (15OO’s)
B. Did not have large cities as did Italy
C. Did not have language to understand Italy as did Italy
D. Disintegration of culture of middle ages
1. Culture dominated by Princely courts (not cities)
2. Chivalry had been important-in escape from reality
a. Nights became less important than foot soldiers (352)
b. Fire arms now in use
3. Religion questioned (353)
a. Fascination with death
1) Danse macabre motif
2) Pietas (virgin and weeping over Christ) popular
b. Obsession with material beauty
c. Fascination with relics-concrete example of religion
d. Interest in devil and witchcraft
1) Fear of women
2) Women were most frequently victims of witch craft
4. Literature (354)
a. Fascination with everyday
b. Down-to-earth work of Boccaccio
c. Most famous disciple was Englishman, Chaucer
d. Canterbury Tales
e. Lively portraits are rich tapestry of English society
5. Art
a. Jan Van Eyck, contemporary of Donatello
1) Less interested in idealization than Florentines and more fascinated with details of physical world
2) Combination of earthiness and piety
b. Durer (leading northern artist of High renaissance, German)
1) Tried to blend southern and northern styles
2) Made 2 trips to Venice
3) Invited by Holy Roman Empire to join his court but wanted to stay in home city
4) Pioneer in business of art
5) Detailed depiction of nature and religious purpose
6. Music (355)
a. No longer for liturgical purposes alone
b. Musicians valued as artists in Princely courts
c. Trumpeters used for official occasions
d. Many joined wealthy households
e. Notation became standardized
f. New instruments
1) Oboe
2) Clavicord
g. Unlike visual art, some women were musicians